Summary: Discussion of body hair transplantation and body hair as a viable source of donor hair for hair transplant/restoration procedures. Article includes legitimate academic and professional sources.
There is a lot of mixed information on the Internet regarding BHT (body hair transplants) – and frankly a lot of mixed information regarding hair restoration in general.
After speaking with my hair restoration physician, Dr. Glenn Charles and examining other professional and academic research – I can give a definitive answer and additional consideration about the potential of body hair as a viable and satisfactory donor source.
First, it’s important to understand the basics.
Like normal scalp hair restoration procedures, the concept of BHT requires moving (transplanting) body hairs that are not prone to DHT-induced thinning to areas on your scalp that are balding. After being extracted and placed into the scalp, these transplanted hairs will grow as they once did on your body, providing density and coverage to your scalp. In theory, a BHT procedure would be done in a similar fashion as follicular unit extraction (FUE), extracting single hair follicles at a time. This differs from follicular unit transplantation (FUT) where a linear “strip” is harvested.
If successful, hypothetically, body hair transplantation can provide a nearly infinite supply of donor hair to the patient. Scalp transplant procedures, both FUE and FUT techniques, offer only a limited supply of donor hair (usually 8,000 to 12,000 grafts). 8,000 to 12,000 grafts are usually enough for the average patient. In cases of advanced balding, more donor hair may be required to achieve adequate density and coverage however.
First, the good news. Body hair transplantation is possible. Despite the various [generalized] claims on the Internet that may suggest otherwise, this procedure is definitely possible and can be successful if performed by an elite hair restoration physician. At the hands of unqualified surgeon, the procedure may be a failure however.
Despite the good news, there are a lot of things to consider.
First, body hair is different than scalp hair.
First, as professional research and Dr. Glenn Charles explained, the texture of body hair is different than scalp hair. It is often more coarse and as generally best used for “filler” in areas such as the crown that do not require as extreme precision to create “natural” density. In most cases, only beard hairs are suitable for transplanted to your hairline. Beard hairs are generally thick and grow individually in a straight pattern, similar to hairs native to your hairline. In the zones just behind your hairline, other body hairs (such as hairs from the chest, legs or torso) are suitable.
Second, body hair grows at a different rate than scalp hair. From misinformation that I read on the Internet, I was under the impression that this was undesirable. Dr. Charles, however, explained that body hair remains in the anagen (growing) phase for longer and in the telogen (resting) phase for a shorter period of time than scalp hair. In theory, this would allow more hairs to be actively growing on your head at any given time.
Third, not all body hair is ideal for hair transplantation. Arm hair is often very thin. Back hair, for some unknown reason, doesn’t often grow well when moved to the scalp. Some people have unsatisfactory density to their lower leg hairs. The best donor areas are beard, chest and torso.
Dr. Robert True, member of the Independent Coalition of Hair Restoration Surgeons, found his 2006 study that transplanted torso hairs actually assume the character and behavior of native scalp. Torso hairs that were once short and wavy became longer and straight once transplanted to the scalp. Dr. True also noted that the body hair, especially torso hair, usually becomes thicker they men age. Torso hair often does not shed according to Dr. True.
While body hair is a viable source of donor hair, most hair restoration physicians agree that it should be your last resort. With the exception of beard hair – body hair should only used in zones to provide “filler” or layered density. Your initial hair transplant procedures should harvest hairs from your donor area. Once the traditional donor area is depleted, you can harvest an additional 500 to 1000 grafts from an FUE procedure. Only after that should you consider body hair for transplantation.
You don’t have to have a hair restoration procedure to achieve density on areas that still have hair. Hair fiber products such as Toppik and Nanogen are more than adequate to give guys significant added density. In areas where scalp hair is depleted, DermMatch works better. To achieve density from hair fiber products in areas that have totally depleted, you may require hairs to be transplanted. Other legitimate hair loss prevention/concealing products are recommended here: Preventing Hair Loss on Steroids.
If you use anabolic steroids, like scalp donor hair that is resistant to DHT, body hair will not thin or fall out. For additional discussion, specific recommendations and a comprehensive overview of androgen-related hair loss, visit Hair Loss From Steroids.
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